Potter sworn in as Mahopac school board trustee

MAHOPAC, N.Y.—Kyle Potter, the top vote-getter in the Mahopac School Board election on May 20, will finish the term of former School Board President Jonathan Schneider, who resigned earlier this year. Schneider's term was set to run until June 30. Potter will then begin serving a three-year term on July 1.

Potter was critical of the adopted 2025–26 budget, which called for a 1 percent tax increase. Voters rejected the budget on May 20.

“With these available funds, there was a real opportunity to provide tax relief without compromising the quality of education,” he said. “Fiscal responsibility means not just managing spending but also recognizing when it's time to ease the burden on our taxpayers.”

GOP backing

With three open seats, Potter (1,759), Lucy Massafra (1,451), and Nicole Iacono (1,425) got the most votes, defeating Vincent Furfaro (945) and the lone incumbent on the ballot, Adam Savino (876). There were a handful of write-in votes, including for former Trustee Jonathan Schneider, who resigned from the board earlier this year.

While the school board ballot does not list candidates' political affiliation, the three winners were endorsed by the Town of Carmel Republican Committee.

Potter was born and raised in Mahopac and is a 2004 graduate of MHS. He lives in town with his wife and two young children, both of whom are enrolled in the Mahopac school system.

He holds a BA in finance from Siena College and an MBA in finance and accounting from the University of Scranton. He has served as a director of accounting, where he managed and produced a $90 million operating budget.

In his pre-election profile, he told Mahopac News he would draw on his financial background as a member of the Board of Education.

“My career has been dedicated to fiscal responsibility, budgeting, and strategic financial planning,” Potter said. “I bring a strong foundation in line-by-line budgeting, transparency, and efficient allocation of resources. I am committed to ensuring every dollar is spent wisely and effectively, always keeping the best interests of our students at heart while remaining mindful of the taxpayers' investment in our schools."

Potter has coached with the Mahopac Sports Association for 15 years and most recently served as president of its lacrosse program.

On challenged books, he supports transparency and parental rights. “Parents should have the right to opt out of specific books they feel are not appropriate for their child,” he said. “It's important that we respect both academic freedom and parental involvement to ensure a balanced and inclusive approach to education.”

He supports diversity and inclusion efforts that are “rooted in fairness and focused on merit.”

“I believe our priority should be to promote and hire individuals based on their qualifications, experience, and ability to contribute meaningfully to student success,” he said.

Potter cited transparency as a top priority moving forward. “Parents deserve to feel heard and respected when it comes to their children's education, and that starts with clear, open dialogue and greater access to information,” he said.